It was unclear how he ended up here and he couldn't figure it out at all. His memory was not there and so he didn't know how or who he was really. The only thing that he remembered was his name, which was Merlin. Not that it mattered where or who he was, as the 'people' that he stayed with were otters.

There was also the small -okay a rather big difference- that he was not an otter for sure, with him having no fur. The only thing that he had was on top of his head a black fur. That was rather thick and wasn't much use in his eyes.

Then there was also the confusing fact for him that he should be an adult, yet here he was being a small child. Merlin was sure that he wasn't even yet over the age of 3 with how small he was. A reason why the otters were that protective of him. A thing that he got long used to with how they took care of his needs, from taking care of his hair to the food intake they made sure that he had it. As they realized that he was not really an otter and would need help. How that could be, Merlin did not know, but it was also not mattering to him that they were this way towards him.

They even made sure that he was curled over the stomach of the otter that was watching the most of the time over him. This was why he called them on his mind mother otter.

His body also got fast adjusted to staying constantly in the water, with some kind of skin between both his fingers and his toes too. It made it easier to swim. Then he also could stay in the water without issues, as he was pretty sure that the changing temperature was long not bothering him any longer.

They often make sure that he was not going to drift, that far and a reason why was also the otter female holding him close when they were drifting and he observed them use some seaweed to wrap himself and most of the time they slept there or sometimes in these dens. They always are close to the water and some entrances are underwater.

It was a good thing that he could breathe long enough or else he might have not enough air and Merlin did not want to find out what will happen next. It was a good life for him and he enjoyed staying with them.

Merlin loved the playfulness of the other pups and they are sometimes rough, but a distressed noise making it known that they were a bit too rough for him. So that they give a noise that made him know that they did not want to cause him any harm.

Merlin knew that he could make noises that other pups could not do and that was confusing him, as he did not understand why this was. How could he when he was someone without a memory? He didn't even know what he was and so far he had met some dangers of other animals. They have met some green ones that had almost got the group. He wouldn't have been fast enough, wouldn't it be for something pushing the green thing away and him being in a distressed state afterward. It took a lot of calming down to make him relax more, but it was since then that he knew that there were threats there.

It made him pay more attention when they were playing. This continues on and Merlin did grow bigger with time. He wasn't small either and at times his family ended up hiding somewhere from something. He could understand their words and that confused him. As never had he talked this kind of noise, but he was sure that when he would try to imitate their speech, he could do this too. Yet had never done this and why would he? There was no need for this kind of speech where he lived. His life continued this way...

Merlin had stopped growing and by now he was as big as some of the weird furless kind that he saw. Some had the same kind of hair on top of their head and there were some that have hair on their face, but that was it.

What also was different to them was that they wear something that was familiar to him, yet he could not remember what it was. All that he knew was that some had worn some kind of fur -even though he knew that it was not fur- and he felt anxious whenever those kinds were close to their den or his family.

By now the pup's left long ago and new ones were born. He stayed as Merlin felt anxious to stay alone. Where would he even go anyway? He knew that he was different and this was the only place that he knew.

"Gwaine really?" A familiar speech made him blink as he had heard this bevor. Yet even when he tried to remember there was nothing.

"What? I was trying to swim, why are you being a sourpuss?" The next speech made his eyes widen as his heart felt a skip of a beat. He felt excited for whatever reason.

"For once, I don't need to see this and second of all one word...alligators and other animals that could be disturbed by your swimming."

He blinked at this and feeling relieved to know that at least one wasn't going to swim in these waters. It was dangerous enough for his family and him, and these people for sure weren't prepared for this. Merlin was pretty sure that they weren't even protected to fend up these kinds of animals.

"Wow, come on Perce. You have the same gender then I do. Surely you shouldn't be embarrassed about this?"

This confused him. Merlin could not understand why someone would be embarrassed about making others seen their well whatever that in-between of his legs is called. For him this was normal. In his interest, he swam over hiding behind a big tree stump.

These people were familiar and even as his family let out warning sounds, he couldn't help but lean further in. Merlin was sure that his otter mom was not happy that he was doing, this but he really wanted to see them closer. They were familiar to him.

"Of course not-"

"Merlin?" The second one with curly fur and -without wearing their weird fur thing- standing there with him tilting his head. This person knew his name.

That was interesting and he tilted his head as slowly lifting himself up and crouching down with an exciting noise left him.

"Great now even Merlin is skinny dipping. Do you know how dangerous this is? There are germs there and god knows what else could happen."

He furrowed his brows at this and not getting why this person was saying skinny dipping. This was not understood by him and making him look confused.

His family of his let out this time warning noises towards the two people. Making him go in front of them and letting out soothing noises, to make it clear that they won't harm him. They looked for sure confused about this, and he wasn't sure how to explain this. So he showed it with his body posture to make it clear that he was relaxed towards them.

"Woah, look at this, Merlin is an otter whisperer." Gwaine (that was what he assumed was what they are called) was awed and he blinked as furrowing his brows at what was just mentioned.

"What?" His voice was a bit scratchy as he had not used this speech, but he knew that it was similar to what he had heard people say.

"Oh, uh can it be that you don't really know us?" This time it was the second person and he blinked at the question but giving an expression that showed it.

"I dun knaw for shure bat knaw that I knaw you two..." He answered as he knew that they would not understand him with his gestures, noises, and posture.

"Ah, so you find us familiar, but that is it?" It was the first person that said this and he nodded and the two held eye contact before letting out a sigh.

"Only you would end up getting adopted by a bunch of animals and then not remembering anything." It was said with a muse and he smiled sheepishly.

"You think you could come with us?" Merlin really was not sure. He liked his family and the fear of not finding them ever again made him pause. Yet he also knew that they were like he was, or semi. After all, he had some attributes that the two didn't have. 

"Alright, how about this, you stay here and we will get the people that you known." It was suggested and he nodded about this, as he was more comfortable with this. So the two left and he was fuzzed over by his pack. One thing he knew for sure was that he would finally find out who he was and maybe even with the help of the called Gwaine and Percy, getting his memory back.